Registering mechanism for printing machines



March 17, 1942.

P. CLAUBERG REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES mnhm mm Filed Dec. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'INVEVNTOR P Clauberg.

Herman ATTO R N EY v March 17, 1942. H. P. CLAUBERG REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING'MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sh eet, 2

Filed Dec. 28, 1959 INVENTOR v Herman P Claub'erg.

ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 17, 1942 UNETED STATES PATENT waits tripe REGESTER-ING MECHANISM FOR PRENIING MACHINES Herman P; Clauberg, Hasbrouck Heights, N. 5., assignor to B. Hoe & (3a, Inc., New York, N. Y, a corporation of New York Claims.

This invention; relates to registering mechanism for printingmaehines, and more particularly to mechanism for angularly adjusting the. form cylinders in muiti-color printing presses with relation to their driving mechanism to insure accurate registration in printing the multicolors.

. In the operation of modern multi-color printing machines, it is highly desirable that the register' of the impressions be immediately observed and register corrections promptly made where improper register renders it necessary. Furthermore, there is aprogressively increasing commercial demand for form-cylinder registeringadjusting mechanism that is operable while'the printing machine is inoperation and which may bacon-trolled. from a point remote-from the printing machine printing cylinders.

It is, therefore, an object of. this invention to provide a mechanism for adjustably varying the angular relationship of theform cylinders in a multi-eolor printing machine with respect to their driving mechanism to insure accurate printing registra-tien-.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for adjustably' changing the angular relationship of the form cylinder of a printing machine with respect toits driving mechanism while the printing machine is in operation, the adjusting mechanism being operable, when necessary, froma point remote from the printing machine printing cylinders.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide a; register adjusting mechanism, for use in multi color printing machines, constructed and arranged to conveniently vary the angular relationship of each form cylinder with respect to its drive, the adjusting mechanism being constructed and arranged so that components thereof may be readily interposed in the form cylinder drive mechanism.

A specific object of, this invention is to provide a register adjusting mechanism for use in multi-color printing machines to conveniently vary the angular relationship of" each form cylinder with respect to its drive, the drive for each form cylinder including a cylinder gear and a driven gear with, an interposed idler gear meshing with the cylinder gear and driven gear, the angular adjustment, of the form cylinder relative to the driven gear being affected by. movement of the idler gear relative to the driven gear and cylinder gear.

A more specific object of. this invention is to provide a register, adjusting. mechanism for, use

in multi-color printing machines to conveniently vary the angular relationship of each form cylinder with respect to its drive, the drive for each form cylinder including. a cylinder gear and a driven gear with. an interposed idler gear meshing with the cylinder gear and driven gear and mounted for rotation in a movable support or carriage, the angular adjustment of the form cylinder relative to the driven gear being affected by adjustable movement of the idler gear support or carriage to thereby move the idler gear relative to the cylinder gear and drive. gear.

It is also an object of this invention to provide in a printing machine, a cylinder register adjusting mechanism of generally improved con.- struction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and eliicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of. parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, and 'minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantage of the invention;

For a complete disclosure oftheinvention, a detailed description of the improved cylinder register mechanism will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is afragmentary side elevation of a rotogravure printing machine depicting the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end view;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view, looking in the direction indicated by arrow 3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, parts broken away and parts appearing in section, depicting theremotev control motor for actuating the form cylinder adjusting mechanism;

Figure 5 isa fragmentary side elevation of a rotogravure printing machine depictinga modified form of theinvention applied thereto;

FigureB'is a horizontal sectional view taken on v the line B6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a vertical detail sectional view taken on the line 'l---'! of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, It indicates the support or sidemembers of a rotogravure printing machine frame, which members rotatably support a form cylinder ll of usual construction. The form cylinder H is supported by a shaft |2 which is rotatably received in suitable bearings carried by the frame members I6, and although only one side of the printing machine frame is depicted, it is to be understood, of course, that the frame members H] are provided at each side of the machine, so that cylinder II and other machine components may be supported therebetween, in conformity with the usual practice. One end of the form cylinder shaft II has a spur gear |3 keyed or otherwise secured thereto against relative rotation, as indicated at IS.

The form cylinder H is rotatably received in an ink fountain or receptacle IE to supply ink to the form on the surface of the cylinder, in conformity with the usual practice in rotogravure printing machines. The cylinder rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 1 and 4, and, as the ink laden area of the printing surface of the form cylinder I I leaves the fountain receptacle 6, the surplus ink is removed from this surface by a doctor blade l! of usual construction, and, then the remaining ink is conveyed to the web or sheet W which is to be printed. An impression or pressure cylinder I8 is journaled in the machine frame, and coacts with the form cylinder II to complete the printing impression, in conformity with the practice well known and understood by those skilled in the art.

A stub shaft 2| is reduced at its inner terminal, as indicated at 22, to define a shoulder 23 between the shaft 2| and reduced portion 22, and this shoulder engages the outer face of a frame side member ID. The reduced portion 22 extends through the side member, and a nut or other suitable securing device 25 is threaded to the outer terminal thereof to clamp the stub shaft to the frame member In. A beveled gear 26 is operably supported by the stub shaft 2| and is arranged to drive a spur gear 20. Any suitable means may be employed to secure the gears 28 and 26 against relative rotation, and, in the present instance, both gears are secured to a sleeve 2'! which is rotatably supported on the stub shaft 2|, as best seen in dotted lines in Figure 2. The spur gear 26 and beveled gear 26 may be held against rotation relative to the sleeve 21 by keys or other suitable securing devices 28, best seen in Figure 4. The beveled gear 26 meshes with a beveled pinion 38 carried by a horizontally-disposed line shaft 3| of usual construction. In multi-unit machines, the line shaft 3| drives each printing unit through a meshing beveled pinion 38 and gear 26 so that all units are driven in synchronism.

A composite arcuate arm or carrier 33 is pivotally secured to a side member II) by a stub shaft 35 which extends through a bearing bore 36 formed in a hub 31 provided at one terminal of the carrier or arm 33. The composite arm 33 includes spaced arcuate side members 38 and 46 which are united at one terminal by the hub 31, and they are also united intermediate their terminals by a cross brace or rib 4|. The terminal of the side member 40 of the arm 33 which is remote from the pivot or fulcrum hub 31 is provided with an aperture 42, Figure 2, which receives therein a stub shaft 43 on which is rotatably mounted an idler pinion 44 which meshes with the spur gears l3 and 28. One terminal of the stub shaft 43 is reduced, as indicated at 46, Figure 2, to provide a shoulder 41. The reduced extension 46 of the stub shaft 43 extends through an aperture 48 formed in the side member 38 of the arcuate arm 33, and the outer terminal of the reduced extension 46 is threaded for the reception of a securing nut 58. The securing nut engages one face of the outer terminal of the side member 38, and the shoulder 4'| engages the opposed face, to hold the stub shaft 43 against axial movement relative to the arm 33. The idler pinion 44 is provided with a hub 45, and the outer terminals of the hub 45 engage the inner faces of the side members 38 and 40 of the arcuate arm 33 to hold the idler pinion against axial movement relative to the arm 33.

A rocking member or poppet 52 extends transversely between the side members 33 and 46 of the arcuate arm 33, and it is pivotally secured thereto by trunnion screws or other suitable securing devices 53, best seen in Figure 3. The central portion of the poppet 52 is provided with a threaded aperture 55 for reception of the threaded stem or screw 56 carried at one terminal of a shaft 51. The shaft 51 is rotatably mounted in a bearing bracket 58 which is suitably secured to the machine frame member ID by screws or other suitable securing devices 68. A hand wheel or manipulating knob 6| is secured at the terminal of the shaft 5'! which is remote from the screw 56, and this hand wheel is held against rotative movement relative to the shaft 5'! by a key or other suitable securing device 62, best seen in Figure 1. The outer terminal of the shaft 51 is provided with a reduced threaded extension 63 for the reception of a nut 64, and a washer 65 is interposed between the nut and the outer terminal of the knob or hand wheel 6| to secure the hand wheel 6| against outward axial movement along the shaft 51. A helical extension spring 66 surrounds a portion of the shaft 51, and it is interposed between the outer face of the cross brace or bridge 4| and the inner terminal of the bearing bracket 58, there being a washer 61 interposed between the outer terminal of the spring 66 and the inner terminal of the bearing bracket 58. By this arrangement, the arcuate arm 33is normally biased by the extension spring 66 to move counterclockwise, or in a direction away from the bearing bracket 58, and this motion is opposed by the threaded engagement of the stem or screw 56 with the threaded aperture 55 of the rocking member or poppet 52.

In operation, when it is desired to change the angular relationship of the form cylinder with respect to its drive gear 20, the hand wheel 6| is rotated in a given direction, and the rotary movement of the threaded stem or screw 56 within the threaded aperture 55 of the rocking member or poppet 52 moves the composite arcuate arm about its fulcrum stud 35 so that the idler pinion 44 is moved laterally within the plane of its rotation and also downwardly around the drive gear 20. Assuming this gear is moved to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, the upper or printing portion of the form cylinder II is advanced to the right, or conversely, if the direction of rotation of the hand wheel 6| is reversed, the direction of movement of the composite arm 33 about its fulcrum stud 35 will be such as to cause the idler pinion 44 to move laterally towards the right within the plane of its rotation thereby causing the upper printing portion of the form cylinder H to move to the left. By this arrangement, it is seen that the angular position of the printing cylinder relative to its drive gear 26 may be advanced or retarded by manipulating the hand wheel 6 I, and

on'the shaft'51 by a'key "62.

this adjustment may be'efEected-while the printing machine is in operation without interfering in any way with the printing functions ofthe machine.

When the idler gear 44 is inits intermediate position so that a'vertical plane-passes through the axis of the drive gear 20, idler gear M-an'd cylinder gear IS, the pitch lines of these gears coincide, or they are positioned for rolling'relationship, but, as the idler pinion-44 is moved-laterally to'either side of its intermediate position it also moves downwardly, *thereby maintaining the teeth of the idler pinion Minmeshing'relation with the teeth of 'the cylinder-gear 13 and the drive gear 20. Inasmuch as-the drive'gear 20 is smaller than the cylinder gear 13, this downward movement of the idler pinion Maids in maintaining an accurate'me'shingrelationship among the gears.

If the drive gear 29 and the 'cyli'ndergg-ear 13 are of the same diameter, then it is preferable that the idler gear 44 be moved in a horizontal path of travel. Such provision has -been-made and will be disclosed hereinafter.

The hand wheel or 'manipulatingknobtl is employed under conditions where remote-control adjustment is not required. However, under conditions where remote control adjustment is required, the hand wheel ormanipulatin'g'knob 6! is removed from the shaft'B'I anditis-retrolled from any desired point, .and, inasmuch as electric motor controls are 'wellknownto those skilled in'the art, "the electric circuit'hashot been depicted in this application. Onepreferred arrangement is to have the controlspositioned near ,the discharge terminal of a.multi-color press, or the. discharge terminal of a number of independent units where the'register'condition .of the printing may be observed, then any required correction .mayzbe immediately made by energizing theselected motor 71. .The motoroperates its shaft 51 to swingthecomposite arm'33 laterally so that the angular position of the'form cylinder is adjusted relative-to its drive to correct any determined inaccuracy inits 'register.

Inprinting-machine constructions whereit is desirable to have the drive gear'and the-cylinder gear of the same diametrical dimension,'then it is preferred that a right line'movement be imparted to the idler pinion 44 instead of an armate or swinging movement. Such an arrangement is disclosed in Figures 5, 6 and 7, wherein the cylinder gear l3 and the drive gear 20 have the same diametrical dimensions, and these gears mesh with the intermediate idler gear 44, similar to the arrangement hereinbefore disclosed. The idler gear 44 is rotatably mounted in a slidable bracket 33' on a stub shaft 43 of the type hereinbefore disclosed. The bracket 33' is maintained in sliding relation relative to the machine frame Ill by slide rails or keepers 80 which are suitably secured to the machine frame ID by screws or other securing devices Bl. The slidable bracket 33 is provided with a threaded aperture 55' for the reception of the threaded stem or screw 55 formed at the inner terminal of the shaft 51.

As the shaftii'l rotated, in the mannerherer inbefore disclosed, the operable engagement of the "threaded stem or screw 56 with the threaded 58, so that the threadsof-the screw 56 are constantly biased against the threads ofthe threaded aperture in which it is received to prevent any backlash when the direction of rotation of the screw *is-reversed.

Itwill be understood :that the invention may be embodied in other spe-cificiorms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereofland it is therefore desired that-the present-embodiment-be-consideredin all respectsasillustrative and not restrictive, and itwill be further understood that each and every novel feature and combination 7 present in or possessed by the mechanism herein-disclosed *forms a partof the invention included inthis application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim'as new and useful is:

l. Ina printing machine, a rotatable cylinder,

'a cylinder gear .rotatable with the cylinder, a .driven gear, an idler gear operably interposed between the driven gear and cylinder gear means for so'movingthe idler gear relative to the driven gear and cylinder gear'as tovarythe angularrelationship between the cylinder and the driven gear, and'means for constantly biasingtheidler gear toward movement in one direction relative tothe cylinder gear and driven gear.

2. Ida printing machine, a rotatable cylinder, a cylinder gear rotatable with the cylinder, ;a driven gear, amovable carrier an idlergear rotatablysupportedby the carrier andoperably interposed between the drivengear-and cylinder gear, means for moving-the'carrierto-move the idler gear relative to the drive gear and cylinder gear-so as to vary the angular relationship between the cylinder and the driven gear, and means for constantly biasing the said carrier toward movement inone direction-relativeto'the cylindergear and driven gear.

3. "In aprinting machine, a-rotatable-cyl inder, a cylinder-gearrotatable-with-the cylinder, a driven :gear, a movable carrier, -anidler gear rotatably --supported :bythe carrier and operably interposed "between the driven gear and cylinder gear, a rotatable shaft .t-hreadedly connected to the carrierfor so movingthe carrierby the rotation of the shaft that the idler gear is moved relative to the driven gear and cylinder gear so as to vary the angular relationship between the cylinder and the driven gear, and means for biasing the movable carrier constantly in a given direction to maintain the threads of the threaded connection between the rotatable shaft and the carrier in abutting relation to prevent lost motion or backlash in the said threaded connection.

4. In a printing machine, a rotatable cylinder, 2. cylinder gear rotatable with the cylinder, a driven gear, a movable carrier, an idler gear rotatably supported by the carrier and operably interposed between the driven gear and cylinder gear, a rotatable shaft threadedly connected to the carrier for so moving the carrier by the rotation of the shaft that the idler gear is moved relative to the driven gear and cylinder gear so as to vary the angular relationship between the cylinder and the driven gear, and an extension spring carried by the rotatable shaft and located to impart constant bias to the movable carrier in a given direction to maintain the threads of the threaded connection between the rotatable shaft and the carrier in abutting relation to prevent lost motion or backlash in the said threaded connection.

5. In a printing machine, a rotatable cylinder, a cylinder gear rotatable with the cylinder, a driven gear, a movable carrier, an idler gear rotatably supported by the carrier and operably interposed between the driven gear and cylinder gear, a rotatable shaft threadedly connected to the carrier for moving the carrier by the rotation of the shaft to move the idler gear relative to the driven gear and cylinder gear so as to vary the angular relationship between the cylinder and driven gear, means to impart constant bias to the movable carrier in one direction to maintain the threads of the threaded connection between the rotatable shaft and the carrier in abutting relation to prevent lost motion in the said threaded connection and an electric motor operably connected with the shaft to impart rotary motion thereto.

6. In a printing machine, a rotatable cylinder, a cylinder gear rotatable with the cylinder, a driven gear, a movable carrier, an idler gear rotatably supported by the carrier and operably interposed between the driven gear and cylinder gear, a rotatable shaft threadedly connected to the carrier for moving the carrier by the rotation of the shaft to move the idler gear relative to the driven gear and cylinder gear so as to vary the angular relationship between the cylinder and driven gear, means to impart constant bias to the movable carrier in one direction to maintain the threads of the threaded connection between the rotatable shaft and the carrier in abutting relation to prevent lost motion in the said threaded connection, a worm gear carried by the rotatable shaft, a worm mounted in meshing relation with the worm gear, and an electric motor operably connected with the Worm to impart rotation thereto so that rotary motion is in turn imparted to the rotatable shaft.

7. In a printing machine, a support, a rotatable cylinder, a cylinder gear rotatable with the cylinder, a driven gear, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support and movable relative thereto, an idler gear rotatably supported by the pivotally mounted carrier and operably interposed between the driven gear and cylinder gear, and means for so moving the pivotally mounted carrier about its pivot as to move the idler gear relative to the driven gear and cylinder gear to vary the angular relationship between the cylinder and the driven gear.

8. In a printing machine, a rotatable cylinder, a cylinder gear rotatable with the cylinder, a driven gear, a carrier pivotally supported at a point below the axis of the driven gear, an idler gear rotatably supported by the said pivotally supported carrier and operably interposed between the driven gear and cylinder gear, and means for moving the carrier about its pivot so that the idler gear is moved laterally-and downwardly to vary the angular relationship between the cylinder and the driven gear.

9. In a printing machine, a rotatable cylinder, a cylinder gear rotatable with the cylinder, a driven gear, a carrier pivotally supported at a point below the axis of the driven gear, the pivot of the carrier being so located with respect to the cylinder gear and driven gear that a line passing through the axes of the cylinder gear and driven gear will extend through the axis of said pivot,

an idler gear rotatably supported by the said pivotally supported carrier and operably interposed between the driven gear and cylinder gear, the idler gear being movable with the carrier in 0pposed directions from an intermediate position and when in the intermediate position the axis of the idler gear is in alinement with the axes of the cylinder gear, driven gear and carrier pivot, and means for moving the carrier about its pivot so that the idler gear is moved relative to the cylinder gear and driven gear to vary the angular relationship between the cylinder and the driven gear.

10. In a printing machine, a rotatable cylinder, a cylinder gear rotatable with .the cylinder, a driven gear, an arcuate carrier pivotally supported at a point below the axis of the driven gear and extending partially around the driven gear, the pivot of the carrier being so located with respect to the cylinder gear and driven gear that a line passing through the axes of the cylinder gear and driven gear will extend through the axis of said pivot, an idler gear rotatably supported by the said pivotally supported carrier and operably interposed between the driven gear and cylinder gear, the idler gear being movable with the carrier in opposed directions from an intermediate position and when in the intermediate position the axis of the idler gear is in alinement with the axes of the cylinder gear, driven gear and carrier pivot, and means for moving the carrier about its pivot so that the idler gear is moved relative to the cylinder gear and the driven gear to vary the angular relationship between th cylinder and the driven gear.

HERMAN P. CLAUBERG. 

